The basic act
At Communion, Christians eat bread and drink wine (or grape juice) together in remembrance of Jesus. The practice goes back to the Last Supper, the night before Jesus was crucified, when he took bread and wine, blessed them, and said: “Do this in remembrance of me.”
The names
- Communion / Holy Communion — most common in Protestant churches
- The Lord's Supper — Baptist and Reformed churches
- The Eucharist (Greek for “thanksgiving”) — Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran
- The Mass — Catholic and some Anglican churches use this for the entire service that includes Communion
- The Divine Liturgy — Eastern Orthodox
- The Sacrament — informal Catholic and LDS usage
What it means — by tradition
Catholic
At the priest's consecration, the bread and wine become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ — known as transubstantiation. The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” Only baptized Catholics in good standing receive Communion at Mass.
Eastern Orthodox
Christ is truly and mysteriously present. The bread is leavened, intincted with wine, and given by spoon. Closed communion: only Orthodox in good standing receive.
Lutheran
Christ is truly present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine — what Lutherans call sacramental union (sometimes mislabeled consubstantiation). Most Lutheran churches practice close communion.
Anglican / Episcopal
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Open communion is the most common practice — any baptized Christian is welcome to receive.
Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed
Christ is spiritually present. The elements are not changed but are channels of grace. Most practice open communion for any baptized believer.
Baptist, evangelical, non-denominational
Communion is a memorial— bread and grape juice (often) symbolize Christ's body and blood. Christ is remembered, not bodily present. Most practice open communion for any believer.
How often?
- Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican: every Sunday and most feast days
- Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist: weekly to monthly, varies by congregation
- Reformed: often monthly or quarterly
- Baptist: usually monthly
- Non-denominational: weekly to monthly
- Churches of Christ: every Sunday
Should you take Communion as a visitor?
It depends. As a general rule:
- Catholic / Orthodox: No, unless you're a member of the church in good standing. You can still go forward with arms crossed for a blessing.
- Anglican / Episcopal: Yes, if you're a baptized Christian.
- Most Protestant: Yes, if you're a baptized believer in Jesus.
If unsure, simply remain seated when others go forward — no one will think anything of it.
What it looks like
At most U.S. churches, Communion involves either:
- Coming forward to a station to receive bread and wine/juice
- Passing trays in your seat (Baptist, evangelical traditions)
- Intinction — dipping the bread into wine
Find a church near you
Use our directory to browse by state or by denomination to find a church whose Communion practice resonates with your beliefs.